Chapter Summaries

Zhou Tong and Ye Fan cultivated inside the Bronze Coffin for ten thousand years as their Dao Proving Artifacts grew stronger. Zhou Tong’s Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings absorbed the collapsing God Realm, greatly empowering the Sky Horn Ant True Fate and creating a vast new world; he discovered that its World Tree was nurturing Golden Crows and appointed them its guardians.

• Zhou Tong and Ye Fan refined their Dao Proving Artifacts and comprehended the Great Dao within the Bronze Coffin, while the Hegemonic Bell continued absorbing fragments of Quasi-Immortal Emperor weapons.
• After ten thousand years, the God Realm within Zhou Tong’s Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings vanished and merged into the remaining two layers of the universe.
• The Sky Horn Ant True Fate reclaimed the soul power bound to the God Realm and grew stronger as the Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings became more stable.
• Zhou Tong saw that the absorbed God Realm had made the Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings extraordinarily rich in spiritual essence, treasures, and spiritual roots.
• Zhou Tong discovered unborn Golden Crows within the World Tree and sent them immortal light, declaring that their clan would guard the tree.

Zhou Tong refined twelve Profound Yellow artifacts to strengthen the Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings, then used them to accelerate time as the Sky Horn Ant True Fate dismantled the middle-layer universe. With the lower-layer universes secured and the workload reduced, Zhou Tong regained the ability to use Quasi-Immortal Emperor-level power and tested the Hegemonic Bell.

• Zhou Tong refined the Profound Yellow Qi into twelve artifacts and embedded them in the Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings to suppress and stabilize the world.
• Zhou Tong had the Sky Horn Ant True Fate move the lower-layer universes onto the World Tree's leaves, where Hong Meng Space's Profound Yellow Qi helped support them.
• The Sky Horn Ant True Fate continued dismantling the middle-layer universe, extracting its fused souls and sending the contents of its universes into the cosmic sea of stars.
• Zhou Tong activated the three Profound Yellow Bells to accelerate time within the Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings by more than twenty times.
• Zhou Tong used the Sky Horn Ant True Fate to strike the Hegemonic Bell, causing it to refine the fragments of the Jade Ruyi more than ten times faster.

After ten thousand years of exchanging Dao insights with the Sky Horn Ant True Fate, Zhou Tong developed mysterious Divine Patterns from the systems of his six completed True Fates. He discovered that they could unleash Quasi-Immortal Emperor might and wondered whether they marked the path toward his Immortal Emperor Method.

• Zhou Tong spent ten thousand years communicating with the Sky Horn Ant True Fate and deepening his understanding of the Great Dao.
• As Zhou Tong studied the Sixth Secret Realm, illusory Dao patterns representing six intertwined cultivation systems began forming in his Sea of Wheels Realm.
• Zhou Tong released one Divine Pattern, which became a six-colored light that destroyed his Immortal King formations, restrictions, and the Immortal Material supporting them.
• Zhou Tong tested the patterns and concluded that their power was Emperor might, comparable to a Quasi-Immortal Emperor's.
• Zhou Tong traced the Divine Patterns to the essence of his Sixth Secret Realm and considered whether they were part of his Dao path toward an Immortal Emperor Method.

Duan De completed the Nine-Life Reincarnation Seal and became a Mortal Immortal, while Zhou Tong continued expanding the Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings by merging universes into them. After the three layers of universes were fully integrated, Zhou Tong sent out the Immortal Phoenix True Fate to seek opportunities.

• Duan De crossed the immortal ascension tribulation and became a Mortal Immortal, recognized by Zhou Tong, Ye Fan, Wu Shi, and Azure Emperor.
• Zhou Tong continued meditating on the Sky Horn Ant True Fate’s insights as the Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings grew increasingly vast and isolated from the outside world.
• Zhou Tong observed that the Sky Horn Ant True Fate was merging universes faster, and the Ten Cave Heaven Divine Rings’ time acceleration had increased to fiftyfold.
• The Sky Horn Ant True Fate finished merging the second layer of universes and rapidly integrated the third layer into the World Tree.
• After all three layers of universes were integrated, Zhou Tong used the Reincarnation Mirror to send the Immortal Phoenix True Fate away.

Zhou Tong’s Immortal Phoenix True Fate emerged from a mountain after ten thousand years of nurturing, revealing itself as an auspicious Innate Divine Demon. He began seeking an initial cultivation technique and noticed a Ji Clan man nearby.

• A Phoenix burst from the ice-covered peak, melting its snow and filling the mountain’s creatures with Auspicious Qi.
• A middle-aged man in white furs recognized the Phoenix as an auspicious Innate Divine-Demonic Fire Phoenix and considered recruiting it for the Ji Clan.
• Zhou Tong realized his Phoenix body had been nurtured for ten thousand years but had not reached its full potential.
• Zhou Tong decided he would need to create a cultivation method suited to his Immortal Phoenix Treasure Art after learning this world’s Cultivation System.
• Zhou Tong spotted the middle-aged man and wondered how to obtain his first cultivation technique.

Newly emerged Phoenix Zhou Tong met Ji Yichuan of the Ji Clan West Mansion and accepted his invitation to visit the Ji Clan residence. He hoped to learn more about the cultivation world and broaden his horizons.

• Zhou Tong descended before a middle-aged man in white beast hide and transformed from a Phoenix into a boy wearing a robe formed from divine power.
• Zhou Tong asked whether the man belonged to the Ji Clan and explained that he had awakened long before emerging from the mountain.
• The man introduced himself as Ji Yichuan of the Ji Clan West Mansion, and Zhou Tong gave his name.
• Zhou Tong said he wanted to find a place to cultivate and learn about the world of cultivation.
• Ji Yichuan invited Zhou Tong to the Ji Clan residence to gain information, and Zhou Tong accepted before following him.

Zhou Tong confirmed that he had arrived in the Desolate Era World and decided to pursue the Eternal Ultimate Fire Dao. Ji Yichuan brought him into West Mansion City and led him toward the Ji Clan inner city.

• Zhou Tong recognized the world as the Desolate Era World and considered how its Ultimate Daos might help him refine a universe and strengthen his true body.
• Zhou Tong chose the Eternal Ultimate Fire Dao as his immediate cultivation goal and continued traveling with Ji Yichuan.
• Ji Yichuan introduced West Mansion City, explaining its main street, military camp, and Martial Palace as they entered.
• Zhou Tong identified a vendor's Phoenix Grass as fake and discussed the city's merchants and human nature with Ji Yichuan.
• Ji Yichuan led Zhou Tong toward the inner city where members of the Ji Clan lived.

Ji Yichuan welcomed Zhou Tong into his residence and offered him the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram so he could learn the human cultivation system. As Ji Yichuan taught Zhou Tong the technique and human writing, he was astonished by how quickly Zhou Tong understood it.

• Ji Yichuan gave Zhou Tong a room in his residence and offered to help him learn about human cultivation.
• Zhou Tong promised to help the Ji Clan three times in exchange for access to its cultivation techniques.
• Ji Yichuan summoned Black Snake, introduced Zhou Tong as an Innate-born Phoenix, and asked him to retrieve the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram.
• Black Snake brought the technique, and Ji Yichuan began teaching Zhou Tong how to read and understand it.
• Zhou Tong quickly grasped Ji Yichuan's explanations and asked questions that Ji Yichuan could not answer.

Zhou Tong began using the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram to replace his flawed Phoenix Divine Body with a new one formed from Taiyin and solar power. After three days of burning away his original divine power, he prepared to break through to the Innate realm.

• Ji Yichuan told Yu Chi Xue and Ji Ning that Zhou Tong's talent surpassed Ji Ning's and that he had begun reforging his divine body.
• Zhou Tong cultivated the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram, gathering Taiyin and solar power into divine marks across his body.
• Zhou Tong's Phoenix Divine Power burned away as he transformed into his Phoenix form, and his aura fell from the Innate realm to the Houtian realm.
• Ji Yichuan, Yu Chi Xue, and the people at the manor witnessed the immense yet life-giving flames, while Ji Yichuan marveled at Zhou Tong's resolve.
• After three days, Zhou Tong's Phoenix Divine Power was gone and Taiyin and solar power filled his body; he then merged the two powers to prepare for the Innate breakthrough.

Zhou Tong completed the sixth level of the Crimson Bright Nine Heavens Diagram and reforged his divine body through the powers of the Sun and Taiyin. After half a month of cultivation, he emerged and stunned Ji Yichuan and Ji Ning by mastering their basic swordsmanship after seeing it once.

• Zhou Tong fused the powers of Taiyin and the Sun, drew in True Sun Fire and True Taiyin Water, and reforged his divine body.
• Zhou Tong stayed in his room for half a month, cultivating until he recovered to Innate Perfection.
• Zhou Tong went to the training grounds and asked Ji Yichuan for a map so he could explore and seek a breakthrough opportunity.
• Ji Yichuan invited Zhou Tong to practice weapons with him and Ji Ning before venturing out.
• Zhou Tong copied Ji Yichuan's basic swordsmanship after watching it once, striking every marked point on the metal puppet and astonishing Ji Yichuan and Ji Ning.

Zhou Tong left West Mansion City after recognizing Ji Yichuan’s attempt to keep him near Ji Ning, then traveled to Winged Serpent Lake to inherit Daoist Sanshou’s Water Mansion. On the way, he deepened his grasp of the Essence of Wind, and the lake’s Lesser Demons instinctively submitted to his aura.

• Ji Yichuan admitted he had hoped Zhou Tong would cultivate alongside Ji Ning, but felt relieved that Zhou Tong’s overwhelming talent would not undermine his son’s confidence.
• Zhou Tong left the city with a map and headed for Winged Serpent Lake, intending to inherit Daoist Sanshou’s Water Mansion.
• As Zhou Tong traveled, he refined a self-created movement technique and gathered the Essence of Wind until a hurricane swept around him.
• Zhou Tong crossed Winged Serpent Lake on foot, and its Lesser Demons watched him with awe and submission.
• Zhou Tong reached the island in the lake and surveyed its terrain while the Lesser Demons there bowed to him.

Zhou Tong found the Winged Serpent’s cave abode and entered a hidden trial corridor, where he began clearing Daoist Sanshou’s tests. He destroyed the first trial’s eighty-one golden-armored celestial soldiers in one strike and continued toward the Second Pass.

• Zhou Tong intimidated the Winged Serpent into submitting and walked into its cave abode.
• Zhou Tong passed the cave’s aquatic demon beasts and entered a hidden corridor through a spatial distortion.
• Zhou Tong collected the contents of a storage ring from a long-dead cultivator, dismissing the treasures as worthless.
• Eighty-one golden-armored celestial soldiers appeared and attacked Zhou Tong.
• Zhou Tong annihilated the soldiers with a fire Phoenix and continued toward the Second Pass.

Zhou Tong cleared the Second Pass by defeating its nine armored guardians and reached the Third Pass. There, he injured the black-furred guardian, who vanished after calling Zhou Tong his new master and urging him to refine the immortal estate.

• Zhou Tong entered the Second Pass, where nine dark bluish-green guardians formed a trapping formation and joined their power through Dao Soldier Armor.
• Zhou Tong killed the nine guardians, collected their armor and weapons, and passed through the corridor after the formation disappeared.
• Zhou Tong reached the Third Pass, collected treasures from the remains of earlier challengers, and met a black-furred guardian who asked him to survive three passes and injure him.
• Zhou Tong caught the guardian's attack, broke his arm with a palm strike, and delighted the guardian, who called him his new master before vanishing.

After clearing the estate’s trials, Zhou Tong explored its vast hall and met the black old ox, who explained the estate’s history and gave him its Talisman Token and a visualization method. Studying the method, Zhou Tong realized that his direct comprehension of the Great Dao could condense his spirit more effectively than visualizing a Buddha.

• Zhou Tong entered a vast hall filled with enormous meditation cushions and sat on one to sharpen his thoughts.
• A black old ox introduced itself as a magic treasure and praised Zhou Tong for passing the estate’s three trials.
• The old ox explained that Zhou Tong was the estate’s fifth owner and gave him a Talisman Token, which he could refine after reaching the Purple Mansion stage.
• At Zhou Tong’s request, the old ox drew the Inner View Sun Moon Bright Buddha visualization method on beast hide.
• Zhou Tong realized that visualizing the Great Dao directly through his own comprehension could strengthen his spirit without relying on a visualization method.

Zhou Tong learned about the Minor Thousand Sword Array but could not use it without a Qi Refining method. He broke through to the Zifu realm through Divine Demon Body Refining and discovered that the system greatly amplified a phoenix’s life force, leaving him with newfound strength and the ability to use Rebirth by Fire.

• Black Old Ox taught Zhou Tong the Minor Thousand Sword Array and warned him to protect its foundational talisman patterns.
• Zhou Tong declined to test the array because he lacked a suitable Qi Refining method and chose to break through to Zifu through Divine Demon Body Refining instead.
• Zhou Tong’s Taiyin and Taiyang Divine Marks summoned True Taiyin Water and True Sun Fire, transforming him into a water-and-fire phoenix as his body underwent metamorphosis.
• Black Old Ox realized that Zhou Tong was an innate phoenix and anticipated that he could use the phoenix lineage’s Rebirth by Fire divine ability after reaching Zifu.
• Zhou Tong returned to human form with immense vitality and concluded that Divine Demon Body Refining suited the phoenix lineage exceptionally well.

After refining the Trust Talisman and reaching the Zifu realm, Zhou Tong toured the Water Mansion’s four subsidiary halls and learned what opportunities they offered. He became entranced by Star Hall’s Great Dao as soon as he saw inside, leaving the Cave Mansion Spirit hopeful about his future.

• The Black Old Ox congratulated Zhou Tong on refining the Trust Talisman and urged him to prioritize Divine Demon Body Refining over Qi Refining.
• The Yellow-haired Great Bear introduced itself as the Cave Mansion Spirit and led Zhou Tong to the subsidiary halls, explaining that he could access more of the Water Mansion after becoming a Primordial Spirit Daoist.
• At Treasure Hall, Zhou Tong learned he could claim treasures if he met their requirements, then saw Star-Plucking Hand Hall, which required Blood Rebirth and an age under ten to enter.
• The Cave Mansion Spirit described War God Hall’s dangerous trials and their rewards, including Zhou Tong’s four current chances to win Zifu-level treasures.
• At Star Hall, Zhou Tong became entranced by the Great Dao before entering; the Yellow-haired Great Bear was astonished by his comprehension and hoped he would survive to become a Primordial Spirit Daoist.

Zhou Tong entered Star Hall and, without reading the Star Scripture, used its Great Daos to transform insights from other worlds. After seven days of enlightenment, he had fully comprehended a Dao for each of the Five Elements.

• Zhou Tong walked through Star Hall’s Small World in a withered state as the Black Old Ox realized he had triggered its Great Dao without the Star Scripture.
• Zhou Tong entered the stream, where water and rain formed a Water Feather Robe as he manifested many aspects of the Path of Water.
• Zhou Tong crossed the barren region surrounded by the scorching force of the Path of Fire, then climbed the mountain with the power of the Path of Earth.
• Zhou Tong manifested the Paths of Wood and Metal as he crossed the forest and reached the mountaintop, while the Yellow-haired Great Bear watched in amazement.
• Zhou Tong contemplated the stars for seven days, transforming his prior insights into this world’s Great Daos and fully comprehending all Five Elements.

After comprehending a complete Dao in the Five Elements, Zhou Tong overcame the greatest bottleneck to becoming a Celestial Immortal or Heavenly Deity. He rejected the Black Old Ox and Yellow-haired Great Bear’s suggestion to pursue the Sword Dao and reaffirmed his resolve to follow the Path of Fire.

• After seven days of comprehending the Dao, Zhou Tong awakened with a complete Dao of the Five Elements.
• The Black Old Ox and Yellow-haired Great Bear congratulated Zhou Tong and praised his talent for grasping five complete Daos so soon after birth.
• Zhou Tong formed a domain of more than ten thousand sword lights by drawing on his comprehension of the Five Elements.
• The Black Old Ox and Yellow-haired Great Bear encouraged Zhou Tong to pursue the Sword Dao for its power and suitability to close combat.
• Zhou Tong said he would follow the Path of Fire, making any future sword, saber, or fist techniques expressions of flame.

Zhou Tong entered the Divine Abilities Hall despite the Yellow-haired Great Bear’s warning that he might fail, and began its battle trial with a saber. As the warriors kept appearing, Zhou Tong cut them down easily and deepened his understanding of the saber Dao.

• Zhou Tong revealed his divine consciousness to the Yellow-haired Great Bear and explained how his Dao comprehension had strengthened his soul.
• The Yellow-haired Great Bear led Zhou Tong into the Divine Abilities Hall and warned him that he still had a thirty percent chance of failure.
• Zhou Tong read the trial rules, chose a saber instead of a sword, and faced hundreds of three-eyed warriors.
• Zhou Tong slew the warriors with a single Five Elements saber strike, and stronger waves appeared.
• Zhou Tong continued slaughtering the warriors while refining his saber techniques and transforming his understanding into the saber Dao of this world.

Zhou Tong comprehended the blade Dao and Blade Power while fighting in the Divine Abilities Hall, then passed the trial and began receiving the Star-Plucking Hand inheritance. He climbed the inheritance stairs as the Yellow-haired Great Bear watched in anticipation.

• Zhou Tong's blade insights deepened during battle, astonishing the Yellow-haired Great Bear and the Black Old Ox.
• Zhou Tong defeated the warriors in the Divine Abilities Hall and continued practicing until he manifested Blade Power.
• Zhou Tong recognized Blade Power's origin but told the Yellow-haired Great Bear that he intended to follow the Path of Fire.
• The Yellow-haired Great Bear declared Zhou Tong had passed the trial and took him to the Star-Plucking Hand inheritance.
• Zhou Tong began climbing the inheritance stairs, enduring pressure on his divine soul as he rapidly absorbed the inheritance.